After a good night’s sleep on a comfortable bed, it was up to get breakfast. A very nice buffet breakfast, including a rice pudding. Fascinating to have rice pudding for breakfast, they have in this country. One that I most wholeheartedly agree with, and enjoy, despite the fact that it is probably loaded with calories. Lingering over the Ipad, drinking coffee and it’s off to start the day. I had been trying to find a day tour for the city without a great deal of luck.
With my newfound skills of using the Metro, it was off to Nevsky Prospect in central St Petersburg. Surfacing in Nevsky St, the main street, there were hawkers selling tours but difficulties with language meant I gave up and started out on foot, when a hop on hop off bus drew up! I jumped on it forthwith! For 500 rubles, it was not what I would call a cheap ride, but it suited me.
Taking the top deck to see the views, it was a cold day and the wind chilling, so glad of my jacket and its warm hood. Everyone on the bus did the same so it was not just me! It was an awesome two-hour trip slowly moving around all the main sites. I made a mental note as to which I would go back. After a McDonald lunch shared with some Americans from Michigan, I hit the footpaths again. I favored McDonald’s nearly the whole trip because invariably they had Wifi, as a solo traveler the Ipad is company. Not only that, the time difference for catching up with family on the other side of the world tended to be during my days sightseeing. Heading for the St Isaacs church that was close by, having seen it from the bus tour, many of the sights of St Petersburg are within an easy walking distance from Nevsky Prospect. Always queues of course, but worth the effort to go and see inside, 250 rubles the charge. The churches are always so beautifully decorated and worth seeing.
Within the area of the church there was an orchestra or band I am not sure which, practising for the Mayday celebrations for 9 May. With the customary, police, security, and people in uniforms the area was ready with seating and sound system. They must have many officials, as there seemed to be seating in fenced off areas in several sites in the city. A bit of overkill in my view, but hey, they are Russian!
Walking on and back to Nevsky St, Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood, the one with all the globes came into view. The simply stunning and unexpected views from the main road caught me. Following the canal, it made very pretty walk, with the inevitable crowds of people coming and going.
The many buskers and small shops an interesting sight with the Matryoshka dolls that are so well known. A large doll with others nested inside the hollows of the previous one. Just outside the church, a man with a couple of monkeys hiring them out for photo opportunities, the monkeys dressed for the occasion. I am not sure that I agree with that but there is little one can do about it. Given the society, I imagine there will be permits and a lot of red tape in place.
Another 250 rubles lighter, it was into see the interior of the church. As gaudy inside as out but nonetheless a very interesting afternoon. The pictures on all the walls made from the tiniest mosaic tiles, seeing the enormity of the work involved you can only wonder at the craftsmanship that has gone into this stunning church.
What an achievement for the artists! It was interesting listening to all the languages being spoken by tour guides, and yes, there was one in English as well.
Of particular interest to me was a young man playing a guitar, busking, and of all the buskers I had heard, his playing came across as being outstanding. A walk in the park or garden along side the church very pleasant Watching the children in the playground, and people in general enjoying the first signs of spring on a beautiful spring afternoon.
Slowly returning to the hotel via the Metro, I am still not comfortable traveling what feels like a kilometer under ground, could be more, could be less , in the scheme of things it doesn’t matter, its still a long way down!
Exiting the Metro close to the hotel, another busker was playing several instruments at once. I spent time to listening to him, a delightful experience. I decided on a pasta dinner at a shop I had noticed in one of my exploratory trips.They even had Borsch on the menu, which of course I had to have. Not as nice as the one I had eaten in Bukhara but still tasty. I am very tempted by the delicious looking strawberries, but at 180 rubles a chip, justification was hard to come by! Equating to $7.60nz they were certainly expensive.